Showing all Fitness Blogs for Hong Kong

You might have missed this piece of news but now you can submit an e-report if you wish to inform the police of a crime. Visit the e-Report Room here or if you are in an emergency, do not hesitate to dial 999.

Yes, the number to call Hong Kong Police in an emergency is 999

 

What to do if you are burgled or experience a robbery

You should report the crime immediately, either by calling 999, notifying a police officer, visiting the police station or by phoning your nearest station. If you are on the premises, then check to see if the burglars are still in the building. If so, do not approach and call 999. You should also alert building security immediately. Once you are in your home, you should resist the urge to touch or move anything as this could tamper with evidence. Also, try not to find out what you are missing until the police arrive. Uniformed officers will arrive first and will be followed by detectives, and it is vital that you relate to them as much information as you can possibly remember in the lead-up to the crime. Forensics experts may arrive to take DNA swabs from anyone living the house as well as to take photographs, so do not be alarmed if you are suddenly inundated with strangers. Police may or may not require you to make a written statement depending on how serious the crime is. You may have to be interviewed numerous time by police during the investigation and Crime Prevention Officers may pay you a visit to offer advice how best to protect your home. Your missing property will be listed on the police database. Once an arrest is made, you will be expected to make an identification in a parade and to later identify your stolen property. The same process will also apply if you are the victim of a robbery, with the exception of calling an ambulance if you or another person need immediate medical attention.

 

What to do if you experience sexual violence

You should report the crime immediately after it has occurred, by dialling 999 or going to the nearest police station. Do not throw away any clothing or try to clean your clothes before being interviewed by police. It is essential to preserve as much evidence as possible. Try to remember as much information as you possibly can, especially details regarding the appearance of the assailant. Forensic investigators may take photos of the scene and of your injuries, if you have any, so be prepared for this, no matter how intrusive it may seem. Your belongings may be taken and you may have to submit your fingerprints. You will be asked to give a formal statement but you will be interviewed by an officer with the same gender as you. You may be asked to help with a composite sketch of the perpetrator or you may be asked to look at photographs of suspects. If any arrests are made, you will have to attend an ID parade, which will usually be held in a one-way viewing room. You may have to attend court, but this can be done by a live video recording, behind a screen or in open court. Officers will maintain contact with you throughout, in order to keep you notified of the progression of the case. You can find further information here at CEASE Crisis Centre or at the Victim’s Charter.   Remember, that the e-Report Room is only for non-urgent crime. If you find yourself in an emergency, call 999 right away.  

Have you ever experienced or witnessed a crime in Hong Kong? Comment below with your stories (anonymously if you prefer).

Hong Kong has more than it’s fair share of weird food items, found in food stalls, restaurants or even in your local supermarket. Not sure what to try first? Here is our definitive list of the best!  

Bird Nest Soup

This is one of the most expensive delicacies you can find on the island and also, one of the strangest. Made from the solidified saliva of the male Swiflet bird, the soup (apparently) has a high nutritional value, as well as being extremely well sought after for it’s exclusivity. It can be prepared as a sweet or savoury dish, and will normally be served alone, so as not to ruin the flavour. The whitest nests are the purest and most expensive, and once cooked, will become gelatinous. They can be bought in specialty shops for around HKD $150-500 per gram. You can also try it here at: Tin Ngai Kam Bird Nest  Place, 210 Shanghai Street, Yau Ma Tei, $238 for a small portion. Shang Palace, inside the Shangri-La Hotel, $680-720 per person.  

Stinky tofu

If normal tofu doesn’t float your boat, then why not try stinky tofu? This is an extremely popular street food and can be found almost anywhere. Originating from mainland China but making it’s mark in Hong Kong and in Taiwan, stinky tofu is made from a fermented brine which itself comes from fermented vegetables, meat, and seafood. The tofu is then immersed in this brine and is then deep fried and served with hoisin sauce. It does not smell great and you might regret it, but make sure you try this street food snack at least once.

Century egg

Often topping lists of ‘most disgusting food in the world’, the century egg is not for the faint-hearted. Century eggs are also known as ‘one hundred year egg’ or ‘thousand year egg’ and is usually a duck, chicken or quail egg that has been preserved in a mixture of clay, ash, quicklime and ricehulls. If you don’t know the ingredients, all you need to know is that when they are mixed, it smells rather like urine. The eggs are usually served in congee, or with garlic, chili and vinegar. You can even find century eggs in local supermarkets, tinned or served in an egg box. If you need more encouragement, century eggs are supposed to be the best hangover cure.

 

Hong Kong boasts an incredibly wide range of cosmetics, from local brands to cheaper imports of designer brands from all over Asia, including Korean and Japanese favourites; So how do you know what to buy? Look no further!  

Jill Stuart

You might know her for her fame as a popular American designer but her premium cosmetics line you might not be so aware of. Only available in Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore, Japan and Taiwan, the range of candy-coloured, sweet-themed cosmetics is visually stunning. It can be found in SOGO malls all over the city.  

Charlotte Tilbury

Famous for being the makeup artist to the stars and having extreme success in Europe, Charlotte Tilbury can now be found in Asia. Try the Feline Flick eyeliner or a Luxury Eye Palette. With stores in the IFC mall and along Canton Road, you can now buy exactly what your favourite beauty bloggers have been talking about.  

GÜLSHA

This Turkish beauty brand draws inspiration from aromatherapy and their main ingredient is pure rosewater distilled from Damascus roses.Extremely popular for its whitening properties, their skincare products are also great for moisturising and toning the skin. Buy the Ultimate Rosewater, which can be used as a toner, face mist, or even as a face mask. You can often find these products used in spas all over Hong Kong, but now you can find them in Sasa stores all over the city.

Banila.Co

Banila.Co started off online but now it can be found in stores and you won’t be disappointed with how many products that they have. The brand can be found in Sasa outlets all over the city. Highly recommended is the CC cream, which is incredibly lightweight (perfect for Hong Kong summers) and Clean It Zero cleansing balm. Again, a staple for hot and humid weather and perfect for removing the build up of that can occur in a polluted city.  

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is something that many of us have deep-rooted stereotypes about. We might believe it to work for other people, but never for ourselves. We can see it as complex, difficult to implement or even a little bizarre. However, you will soon see that it is remarkably simple to introduce elements of TCM in your everyday life. With that being said, let’s go through some of the basics and how you can utilize them.
 

The basics

Essentially, TCM is a way in which body, mind and spirit are all connected. One aspect directly affects the other. Aside from this, the seasons, weather and the planets also affect how we feel, for better or worse. If you are suffering from some kind of ailment, it is more than likely that one energy flow in your body is obstructed and should thus be correctly balanced. Out of balance means out of shape and in order to feel well, everything must connect and move in harmony with one another. Most importantly, your physical well-being is greatly affected by your mental well-being. To have one without the other is impossible. You may notice how your emotional state can often impact your physical state, even in very small ways. Our skin can look duller, our hair loses its shine, we catch colds quickly and lose them slowly. TCM is a philosophy translated into real actions that can improve how we think and feel. Let’s take a look at the how.
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Diet and TCM

We all know that nutrition is extremely important. Eating a balanced diet is something that is parroted at us on a daily basis. TCM divides food into two distinct groups. We have the typical health foods that are alleged to give us vitality and enhance our physical condition. Secondly, we have food that is only prescribed for a short period of time to help with a specific ailment. These are most commonly ginger, ginseng, herbs and seeds which can target a particular problem. These are foods that have to be eaten when a part of the body is out of balance. TCM believes that each food has its own property and energy, which will then be disseminated throughout the body. When visiting a TCM practitioner, they will most likely prescribe something that will help you recuperate from an illness or ailment, based on centuries of tradition. For a full list of foods used in TCM, take a look here.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)


 

Acupuncture and acupressure

Nearly all of us are familiar with the practice of acupuncture and we can be forgiven for thinking that it looks a little scary. Having needles placed in areas of your body that are sensitive to the touch may sound like anyone’s idea of hell. However, acupuncture is specifically to diagnose and prevent problems that may occur in the future. One of the great tenets of TCM is that your body has the ability to heal itself, even if it may need a helping hand now and then. Acupuncture is essential for prevention over cure and will give you clues into how your body is working. Far from painful, acupuncture is relied upon to reach a level of self-care that does not necessitate the use of cures over prevention. Of course, acupuncture should never be done at home and it is essential that you visit an expert. For a list of reputable acupuncture clinics in Hong Kong, visit here.
Acupressure on the other hand is a type of massage that improves your organ function, contributing to a greater sense of overall health. The most common way of doing this is by following The Four Energy Gates rules of massage. All of the practices are easy to do and can be implemented into your daily life without too much difficulty. Of course, for further guidance, it is highly recommended that you visit a professional. If you have any doubts about your health, then always consult a doctor before trying anything new. The idea is to do more good than harm and the idea of ‘physician, heal thyself’ may well work in theory but you might want to seek advice before starting with the practice.  
 
In the second part of this series, we will take a look at how TCM can have a beneficial effect on your mental health and in turn, your physical condition.
 

Have you ever tried Traditional Chinese Medicine? How did it work for you? Comment below with your stories!